m a richards

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for May. James Campbell’s aid to pastors handling the elderly, What Do You Say? earned the top spot. Winter of the Metal People by Dennis Herrick was second.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for May, 2016 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

NEW

What Do You Say?

James Campbell

Pastoral Resources

2

20

Winter of the Metal People

Dennis Herrick

Historical Fiction

3

3

Choice of Enemies

M A Richards

Spy Thriller

4

5

Israel Under Siege

Scot McCauley

Espionage Fiction

5

—

The Oxygen Factory

Renee des Lauriers

YA Dystopian Fiction

6

12

The B Team

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

7

—

Blue Lines Up In Arms

James Craig Atchison

Thriller Fiction

8

4

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

9

6

Where Elephants Fought

Bridget Smith

Historical Fiction

10

—

The Penns’ Manor of Spread Eagle and the Grist Mills of the Mahantango Valley

Steve Troutman

History

11

—

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

Vietnam Memoir

12

14

Between Good and Evil

R Michael Phillips

Detective Thriller

13

NEW

The Mask of Minos

Robert Walton

Thriller Fiction

14

—

Rising Sun Descending

Wade Fowler

Historical Fiction

15

—

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

16

—

Keystone Tombstones Civil War

Joe Farrell, Joe Farley & Lawrence Knorr

History

17

—

Keep It Blue

Haley Dean

Literary Fiction

18

—

Ionica

Catalina Petcov

Memoir

19

11

Freemasons at Gettysburg

Sheldon Munn

History

20

7

The Closer

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

21

—

Going Home

Sharon Marchisello

Thriller Fiction

22

—

GXM731

Terry Ray

Science Fiction

23

30

That Night at Surigao

Ernie Marshall

History

24

9

The Ripper’s Haunts

Michael Hawley

History

25

—

Seeking Samiel

Catherine Jordan

Thriller Fiction

26

13

A Moment in the Sun

Tory Gates

YA Fiction

27

NEW

Death by Internet

Joe Carvalko

Speculative Fiction

28

—

Pink Flamingos All Around

Matt Anderson

Childrens

29

—

The Bookseller’s Secret

Catherine Jordan

Thriller Fiction

30

—

The Devil Tree

Keith Rommel

Thriller Fiction

James Campbell’s “What Do You Say?” returned to print for the first time in 25 years and took the top spot thanks to author activities. “Winter of the Metal People” by Dennis Herrick climbed to #2 due to a large order from a school district in New Mexico. M A Richards’ spy thriller “A Choice of Enemies” held at #3 due to the author’s tour of bookstores in the northeast. Admiral McCauley’s international thriller “Israel Under Siege” notched up to #4 thanks to bookstore orders. “The Oxygen Factory,” the YA dystopian novel from Renee des Lauriers returned to the rankings at #5 due to author activities. Alan Mindell’s “The B Team” took #6 and “The Closer” #20 thanks to author appearances in southern California. James Craig Atchison’s “Blue Lines Up In Arms” returned to the rankings at #7 as the author appeared at Pennsylvania bookstores. Mike Campbell’s “Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last” continues to sell well at #8 as readers acquire this second edition. Bridget Smith’s historical fiction “Where Elephants Fought,” about a Confederate general, clocked in at #9 as the author continued her speaking rounds. Steve Troutman grabbed #10 with “The Penns’ Manor of Spread Eagle and the Grist Mills of the Mahantongo Valley.” Steve continues to make appearances upstate. Joe Fair’s Viet Nam memoir “Call Sign Dracula” continues to sell well among the veterans, ranking #11. R Michael Philips’ “Between Good and Evil” inched up to #12 as he continues to make author appearances in the Philadelphia area. Bob Walton’s “The Mask of Minos” debuted at #13 thanks to author activities. Wade Fowler’s “Rising Sun Descending” charted at #14 in advance of Jubilee Day in Mechanicsburg. Anthony Julian’s “Pit Bulls” returned to the chart at #15 as interest in the breed continues to be strong. “Keystone Tombstones Civil War” by Joe Farrell, Joe Farley, and Lawrence Knorr slotted in at #16 thanks to author activities. Haley Dean’s “Kepp It Blue” charted at #17 in advance of Jubilee Day. Catalina Petcov’s “Ionica” ranked #18 in advance of her author event in Lebanon, PA. Sheldon Munn’s “Freemasons at Gettysburg” held at #19 thanks to orders from gift shops in Gettysburg. Sharon Marchisello’s “Going Home” grabbed #21 in advance of Jubillee Day. “GXM731” by Terry Ray benefitted from orders from MUFON, taking #22. Ernie Marshall’s “That Night at Surigao” moved up to #23 due to continued interest in the subject matter. Michael Hawley’s “The Ripper’s Haunts” slipped to #24 but continues to get interest from Ripper fans. Catherine Jordan took #25 and #29 with “Seeking Samiel” and its sequel “The Bookseller’s Secret.” Catherine made appearances in the Harrisburg area. Tory Gates continues to promote his book “A Moment in the Sun,” and ranked #26. Joe Carvalko’s “Death by Internet” slotted in at #27 due to author activities. Matt Anderson’s “Pink Flamingos All Around” returned to the chart at #28. Keith Rommel’s promotinal activities pulled “The Devil Tree” onto the chart at #30.

Sunbury Press and M. A. Richards, author of the Nathan Monsarrat series of espionage thrillers, are pleased to announces the summer tour for CHOICE OF ENEMIES (January 2016, Sunbury Press).

Mr. Richards will host author events in Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. He will discuss both CHOICE OF ENEMIES and A THOUSAND ENEMIES, the second Nathan Monsarrat espionage thriller, to be published by Sunbury Press in October 2016. A full schedule follows.

Mr. Richards will also serve as a panelist at Killer Nashville from August 18-21, 2016 and as a presenter at the annual Florida Writers Association Conference from October 20-23, 2016.

CHOICE OF ENEMIES: A NATHAN MONSARRAT THRILLER

Light sweet crude is the mother’s milk of the Niger Delta.

As the price for each barrel of oil rises on the international markets and the stakes for securing the black gold increase, a consortium of American oil companies and the Central Intelligence Agency plot to secure the flow of the crude.

In Africa, though, plans unravel as quickly as cheap socks, and promises between partners have the lifespan of a mayfly.

Nathan, a retired Central Intelligence Agency deep cover operative, now a Dean at a small college in Massachusetts, is visited by his former mentor at the Agency, who offers him a blunt choice: either travel to the Dark Continent to lay the groundwork for the coup d’état, or condemn the woman who saved his life to a brutal execution.

Out of options, he returns to Africa, where he discovers that the Agency plans to reward his services with an oil soaked grave.

Assisted by a coterie of new and old allies, including a beautiful vor with a thirst for power and a yeshiva bocher with a fondness for Armani suits, as well as his own sharp intelligence, considerable wit, and substantial charm, Nathan parries the Agency, circumvents the consortium, and exacts his own vengeance.

In doing so, he learns that his choice of friends is as important as his choice of enemies.

M. A. RICHARDS

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, M. A. Richards received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Studies from Connecticut College and his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. During a career as a Cultural Attaché in the Department of State that spanned more than two decades, he served in Baghdad, Jerusalem, Lagos, Moscow, Seoul, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C. He also served at U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu as the Special Advisor to the Commander. He speaks Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, and Russian. M. A. divides his time between Palm Beach and Tel Aviv, where he indulges his passions for motorcycles, photography, and archaeology. Visit www.marichardsbooks.com to learn more about M. A. Richards and Choice of Enemies.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for April. Sherri Maret’s children’s book Help Me! earned the top spot. Mary Sachs: Merchant Princess by Barbara Trainin-Blank was second.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for April, 2016 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

NEW

Help Me!

Sherri Maret

Childrens

2

NEW

Mary Sachs: Merchant Princess

Barbara Trainin-Blank

Biography

3

4

Choice of Enemies

M A Richards

Spy Thriller

4

1

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

5

NEW

Israel Under Siege

Scot McCauley

Espionage Fiction

6

—

Where Elephants Fought

Bridget Smith

Historical Fiction

7

—

The Closer

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

8

7

Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure

Beth Lancione & Kathy Haney

Childrens

9

NEW

The Ripper’s Haunts

Michael Hawley

History

10

—

The Mouse with the Broken Tail

Dan Shutters

Childrens

11

—

Freemasons at Gettysburg

Sheldon Munn

History

12

—

The B Team

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

13

20

A Moment in the Sun

Tory Gates

YA Fiction

14

11

Between Good and Evil

R Michael Phillips

Detective Thriller

15

NEW

The Cursed Man

Keith Rommel

Thriller Fiction

16

—

The Complete Story of the Worldwide Invasion of the Orange Orbs

Terry Ray

Paranormal

17

—

The Sign of the Eagle

Jess Steven Hughes

Historical Fiction

18

—

Bows, Bullets, and Bears

John L Moore

History

19

—

Settlers, Soldiers, and Scalps

John L Moore

History

20

—

Winter of the Metal People

Dennis Herrick

Historical Fiction

21

—

Forts, Forests, and Flintlocks

John L Moore

History

22

—

Traders, Travelers, and Tomahawks

John L Moore

History

23

—

Cannons, Cattle, and Campfires

John L Moore

History

24

—

Pioneers, Prisoners, and Peace Pipes

John L Moore

History

25

—

Rivers, Raiders, and Renegades

John L Moore

History

26

—

Warriors, Wampum, and Wolves

John L Moore

History

27

—

Dying for Vengeance

J M West

Murder Mystery

28

26

Darkness at First Light

J M West

Murder Mystery

29

—

Courting Doubt and Darkness

J M West

Murder Mystery

30

—

That Night at Surigao

Ernie Marshall

History

Sherri Maret’s Help Me!, about a humorous wildlife expedition to Africa, was the top seller thanks to author promotional activities. Mary Sachs by Barbara Trainin-Blank placed second due to a large order from a charitable organization. M. A. Richards’ Choice of Enemies inched up to #3 thanks to bookstore sales ahead of author appearances. Mike Campbell’s Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last slipped from the top spot to #4, as sales tailed a bit following release. Former Admiral Scot McCauley’s thriller Israel Under Siege debuted at #5 due to author activities. Where Elephants Fought, the Civil War historical fiction by Bridget Smith, returned to the list at #6 thanks to author events. Alan Mindell’s sports fiction titles The Closer (#7) and The B Team (#12) both returned to the list thanks to author appearances in California. Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure held steady at #8 due to promotional events. Michael Hawley’s The Ripper’s Haunts debuted at #9 thanks to excitement among ripper-aficionados. Dan Shutters’ The Mouse with the Broken Tail returned to the rankings at #10 due to a bulk order. Sheldon Munn’s Freemasons at Gettysburg notched #11 due to continued interest in the subject. Tory Gates’ A Moment in the Sun climbed to #13 thanks to author events. R. Michael Phillips’ thriller Between Good and Evil held steady at #14 due to author appearances. Keith Rommel’s The Cursed Man benefited from the new movie-themed cover, just released, boosting the book to #15. Terry Ray’s Orange Orbs … book jumped to #16 due to an order from MUFON. Jess Stephen Hughes’ The Sign of the Eagle was #17 as the author continued to tour the Pacific Northwest. John L Moore took #’s 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, & 26 with his Frontier Pennsylvania series. Moore’s books have received heavy orders from various retail outlets in the Susquehanna Valley. Dennis Herrick’s Winter of the Metal People returned to #20 due to orders from New Mexico. J. M. West’s Carlisle Crime Capers series took #’s 27, 28, & 29 thanks to author activities. Ernie Marshall returned to the rankings at #30 with his naval history That Night at Surigao.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for March, 2016. Mike Campbell’s 2nd edition of his Amelia Earhart book took the top spot. Dead of Summer by Sherry Knowlton grabbed the second spot.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for March, 2016 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

NEW

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

2

—

Dead of Summer

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

3

—

Dead of Autumn

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

4

13

Choice of Enemies

M A Richards

Spy Thriller

5

NEW

The Relations of Dwight D Eisenhower, 2nd Ed.

Lawrence Knorr

Genealogy

6

6

The Bipolar Millionaire

John E Wade II

Biography

7

2

Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure

Beth Lancione & Kathy Haney

Childrens

8

—

From Blue Ground

Joe Harvey

YA Fiction

9

—

The 3-5-7 Model

Darla Henry

Grief Counseling

10

24

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

War Memoir

11

3

Between Good and Evil

R Michael Phillips

Detective Thriller

12

—

The Penns’ Manor of Spread Eagle

Steve Troutman

History

13

—

Tulpehocken Trail Traces

Steve Troutman

History

14

NEW

The Mask of Minos

Robert Walton

Thriller Fiction

15

—

Beagle Tales 2

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

16

—

Beagle Tales 4

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

17

—

Beagle Tales 3

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

18

—

Beagle Tales 5

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

19

—

Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos

Beth Lancione & Kathy Haney

Childrens

20

NEW

A Moment in the Sun

Tory Gates

YA Fiction

21

—

A Darker Shade of Freedom

C James Gilbert

Historical Fiction

22

11

Rabid Philanderer’s, Inc.

Nancy Williams

Thriller Fiction

23

—

Raising Monarchs

Sue Fox McGovern

Science

24

—

The Undecided

Robin Donaruma

YA Fiction

25

—

The Cogan Legend

Robert Miller

Historical Fiction

26

—

Darkness at First Light

J M West

Murder Mystery

27

—

Found. Still Lost.

Ashley Nichole

Poetry/Photography

28

—

The Politics of Prevailing

William Miller

Education

29

—

Linnea’s Kitchen

Linnea Jepson

Cookbook

30

30

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

The 2nd edition of “Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last” by Mike Campbell took the top spot thanks to continued interest in the missing aviatrix. Sherry Knowlton nabbed the next two spots with “Dead of Summer” at #2 and “Dead of Autumn” at #3 thanks to author activities. M A Richards’ “Choice of Enemies” climber to #4 due to book store events. Lawrence Knorr’s 2nd edition of “The Relations of Dwight D Eisenhower” joined the rankings at #5 because of a large order for the Pennsylvania German Society event on June 4th honoring the former President and his Pennsylvania Dutch roots. John Wade’s biography “The Bipolar Millionaire” held at #6 thanks to author activities in New Orleans. Beth Lancione’s “Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure” slipped to #7 as orders tapered following the initial release. However, “Soloon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos” returned to #19 thanks to interest in the Antarctic release. Joe Harvey’s “From Blue Ground” rejoined the rankings at #8 due to author activities. Darla Henry’s “The 3-5-7 Model” took #9 thanks to orders from clinics. Joe Fair’s Vietnam memoir “Call Sign Dracula” climbed to #10 because of author activities. Michael Phillips’ “Between Good and Evil” held at #11 thanks to bookstore orders in advance of signing events. Steve Troutman grabbed #12 and #13 with “The Penns’ Manor at Spread Eagle …” and “Tulpehocken Trail Traces” thanks to interest in the author’s events in the region. Robert Walton’s new release “The Mask of Minos” grabbed #14 due to author release activities. Bob Ford ranked #15, #16, #17 & #18 with Beagle Tales 2, 4, 3, & 5. Ford has had great responses when selling books at his dog trials. Tory Gates’ new release “A Moment in the Sun” debuted at #20 thanks to author events. C James Gilbert’s “A Darker Shade of Freedom” returned to the rankings at #21 as the author prepped for events. Nancy Williams’ “Rabid Philanderers” held on at #22 due to online sales. Sue Fox McGovern’s ” Raising Monarchs ranked #23 as seasonal orders from garden centers arrived. Robin Donaruma’s “The Undecided” climbed to #24 thanks to author activities. Robert Miller’s “The Cogan Legend” ranked #25 due to local interest. Joan West’s “Darkness at First Light” took #26 from book signing sales. Ashley Nichole’s “Found Still Lost” charted at #27 from sales at an author event in Hershey, PA. Dr. William Miller’s “The Politics of Prevailing” made the list at #28 thanks to sales to education professionals. Joanna Jepson’s “Linnea’s Kitchen” cookbook sold out of it’s print run, taking #29. Anthony Julian’s “Pit Bulls” clung to #30 for the second straight month due to online sales.

A tale of greed, betrayal, and vengeance, CHOICE OF ENEMIES is the first in a series of espionage novels featuring Nathan Monsarrat, a retired Central Intelligence Agency deep cover operative with an extensive knowledge of black gold and expertise in weapons, women, and Benjamins.

Light sweet crude is the mother’s milk of the Niger Delta. As the price for each barrel of oil rises on the international markets and the stakes for securing the black gold increase, a consortium of American oil companies and the Central Intelligence Agency plot to secure the flow of the crude. In Africa, though, plans unravel as quickly as cheap socks, and promises between partners have the lifespan of a mayfly.

Nathan, now a Dean at a small college in Massachusetts, is visited by his former mentor at the Agency, who offers him a blunt choice: either travel to the Dark Continent to lay the groundwork for the coup d’état, or condemn the woman who saved his life to a brutal execution. Out of options, he returns to Africa, where he discovers that the Agency plans to reward his services with an oil soaked grave.

Assisted by a coterie of new and old allies, including a beautiful vor with a thirst for power and a yeshiva bocher with a fondness for Armani suits, as well as his own sharp intelligence, considerable wit, and substantial charm, Nathan parries the Agency, circumvents the consortium, and exacts his own vengeance. In doing so, he learns that his choice of friends is as important as his choice of enemies.

EXCERPT:
In the cool of the African dawn, six armored Suburbans bulled through the sodden Delta jungle toward Bonny Island. In their wake, whirlwinds of red dirt billowed upward toward the crown canopy. Inside the vehicles, frigid air filtered the jungle stench of rot and decay. Felix Sanhedrin, a twenty-five-year veteran of covert operations in Africa and the Middle East, sat on the rear bench of the convoy’s second Suburban like Allan Quatermain returned to the Dark Continent. White linen slacks, a blue Oxford shirt, a silk ascot, and a freshly pressed, khaki bush jacket adorned his thin frame. A device more computer than chronometer rested on his left wrist. His felt slouch hat boasted a faux leopard-skin band, and his canvas jungle boots gleamed. A Glock 19 nested in a leather holster on his right hip.

Sanhedrin’s new boots rested atop two green, canvas duffel bags stuffed with Benjamin Franklins, and he carried with him, like a talisman, the blessings of the Mandarins who guided the operations of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. Despite their stated policy to never negotiate with the enemies of the United States, Sanhedrin had convinced the éminences grises to ransom his assistant, Nathan Monsarrat, from the rebel group called Fighters Against Terror in Africa, or FATA.

He issued orders like a young boy presenting Santa Claus with his Christmas list. “First rule: I’m in charge, and my word is law. Second rule: we take only Monsarrat with us. Final rule: my money’s bought your silence. Neither you nor your shooters nor your medics will speak of this mission to anyone. Never repeat, never. Capish, my new friend?”

Next to Sanhedrin, Mark Palmer wore funereal black, a shooter’s vest, tee shirt, tactical pants, jungle boots, baseball cap, Nomex gloves, and sunglasses. Years beneath the African sun had braised his face and arms. He was clean shaven, and his hair was cut in a brown bristle. Military tattoos covered both his forearms, and blue veins latticed his knotted muscles. He carried an M4 rifle, a brace of Heckler and Koch P30 pistols in nylon holsters strapped to his thighs, a combat knife, commo gear, and four P30 magazines looped onto his belt. The shooter’s vest held extra M4 mags.

He spoke with a soft, Southern drawl. “Five by five, Mr. Scarnagh. No worries. We were never here.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, M. A. Richards received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Studies from Connecticut College and his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. During a career as a Cultural Attaché in the Department of State that spanned more than two decades, he served in Baghdad, Jerusalem, Lagos, Moscow, Seoul, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C. He also served at U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu as the Special Advisor to the Commander. He speaks Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, and Russian.

FROM THE AUTHOR:
A true labor of love, CHOICE OF ENEMIES grew from my 24(+) years as a Cultural Attaché with the Department of State. During my years as a diplomat, I spent much time in Africa and worked in many countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, and Namibia. My first-hand experiences and adventures (and misadventures) were a petri dish for incubating the story. I’d like to say the novel sprung entire and polished from my head, like Athena springing fully armored from the forehead of Zeus, but all that the birth of CHOICE OF ENEMIES had in common with that particular piece of mythology was the feeling of an axe cleaving my brain. First novels are notoriously difficult to bring to fruition, and this one took eighteen months to write, but like any difficult child who survived a tough start, I am very proud of the book and its hero, Nathan Monsarrat. He’s a good man, steady, dependable, and smart, but not without neuroses. Still, if I had to go into a dark alley at night in one of the planet’s nastier shitholes to meet a scumbag like Felix Sanhedrin (Monsarrat’s bête noire), I would want Nathan on my six.